Sir Winston Churchill said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Over the last year or so, several significant changes and developments have occurred in the Canadian cereals sector – including most recently, the announcement by the federal government that the Canadian Grains Commission will move… Read More
Author: Jay Bradshaw
Jay Bradshaw is President of Syngenta Canada, an agri-business committed to sustainable agriculture & farming with future generations in mind. With products in crop protection, seed care and seeds aimed at raising farm productivity, Syngenta is helping bring plant potential to life. Syngenta was formed in 2000 and Jay joined the team as President of Syngenta Crop Protection Canada, Inc. in 2001 at the head office in Guelph, Ontario. He brought with him a passion for agriculture and a leadership style that focuses on empowering the Syngenta team to shape the company's reputation and future. Jay was born and raised in a farming community in the Eastern Townships of Quebec. He is a graduate from the University of Guelph's Ontario Agriculture College in 1982 followed by an M.B.A. from Saskatchewan in 1986. Jay is currently serving as Past Chair of CropLife Canada and is an active community hockey and soccer coach. He lives north of Guelph with his wife Kathy and their two sons.
NAFTA has been very valuable for agriculture in Canada and the US. An agreement signed by Prime Minister Harper and President Obama looked to further reduce trade barriers. This agreement specifically addresses the crop protection industry and will streamline the product-approval process. As a result, I’m confident we’ll see significant benefits for Canadian farmers. How… Read More
If you only read news headlines, you’d probably be left with the impression that most of 2011 was a rough spell for Canadian agriculture. But if you dug just a bit deeper, you’d see there’s plenty of room for optimism in our sector. From the 30,000-foot level, the statistics suggest a stagnating industry. Our previously… Read More
The global demand for wheat is expected to double over the next forty years – and Canada can play an important role in meeting that demand. In addition to its growing prominence on the world stage, what makes wheat truly exciting is its significant potential for technology transformation – and Canadian agriculture has the opportunity… Read More
For half a century, chemistry has provided the mainstay for crop protection, while conventional breeding practices have ensured the development of increasingly productive and resilient crops. Advancements in these technologies will continue to be important as global population – approaching 10 billion by 2050 – outpaces the availability of new farmland. Feeding the world requires… Read More
During February, Oprah Winfrey famously challenged her viewers to adopt a vegan diet (no animal products) for a week and took her cameras inside a Cargill meat processing facility. Cargill won kudos from around the industry for its transparency – and its ability to communicate a commitment to values shared by the livestock and meat… Read More
In November Syngenta celebrated its 10 year anniversary. I’ve been President for nine of those years, and have seen first hand the rapid pace of change taking place across the agricultural landscape in Canada. And change, while often feared, can be a good thing – it can bring with it opportunity. Since 2000, the Canadian… Read More
Globally, we€™re in a position where demand for wheat is surpassing supply. Figures from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) show wheat demand growing by 1.5 per cent per year, while annual production is increasing by only 0.9 per cent. With the global population expected to rise to over 9 billion by 2050,… Read More
What does it mean to farm? Why do it? For many, it is a question of passion. Passion for the lifestyle €“ the satisfaction of working the land; the freedom to be your own boss in a world that€™s not constricted by office walls and collared shirts; the day-to-day enjoyment of hard work and fresh… Read More